Joystiq has an image of a store display in a Rochester, Minnesota Best Buy that seems to show a February 1 launch date for Diablo III, Blizzard's upcoming action/RPG sequel. They have some follow ups that don't completely confirm or deny this, and word that the end-cap was legit, but has since been removed. Meanwhile, the Best Buy Website now shows a February 1 release date for the game.

RollinThundr wrote on Jan 9, 2012, 13:15:Except in the case of Diablo 3 there is zero reason to force a player to be online, the first 2 didn't require it, why should the third?

Oh wait easy answer, to try to force people to use their real money transaction rape house.

Right, cus that's why...funny how I've probably put 20+ hours into the beta and have yet to even look at the Auction House. You don't have to use it buying or selling. Has fuck all to do with being a persistent online connection.

I get that people don't like forced online requirement even if playing solo. I even get why, primarily because many look at it as solely a form of DRM. With it being primarily a mutliplayer game, being able to take a solo toon into multiplayer and the fact that fixes and changes can be made on Battle.net end without a patch are two very good reasons why I'm ok with online play even if I play solo.

Oh yeah its wonderful to force people to sign into their bloatware battle.net just to play solo. That's so innovative. Please.